EN 50342 (European SLI battery standard)
European standard that defines dimensions, capacities and specifications (CCA, Ah, RC) for lead-acid automotive batteries.
EN 50342 is the European standard that defines lead-acid automotive batteries (SLI category: Starting, Lighting, Ignition). It specifies standard physical dimensions (L0-L6), the method for measuring CCA (at -18°C for 30 s, final voltage above 7.2 V with battery at 100%), nominal capacity at the C20 rate, vibration, cycling and service-life tests. It is the mandatory reference for European manufacturers (Varta, Bosch, Exide, Banner, Berga, Tudor) and all OEMs publish their batteries to this standard. It is complemented by extensions for Start-Stop batteries: EN 50342-6 (EFB) and EN 50342-7 (AGM).
The American equivalent is BCI (Battery Council International); the Japanese, JIS D 5301. Knowing which standard a published value refers to matters: 800 CCA EN ≠ 800 CCA SAE — published CCA values under different standards are not 100% interchangeable.